Hans Beisswenger

Hans Beisswenger (8 November 1916-6 March 1943) was a fighter ace of the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II. He had 152 victories, making him the 34th highest-scoring German pilot of the war. Beisswenger went missing south of Staraya Russa in the Soviet Union in 1943.

Biography
Hans Beisswenger was born in Schwabisch Hall in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1916. He enlisted in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1937, joining the powerful air force of Adolf Hitler's army. On 7 April 1941 he claimed his first victory over the Allied Powers in World War II by shooting down a Yugoslav plane, and he proceeded to gain many more victories in the Eastern Front.

On 23 August 1942, he became "Ace in a Day" by shooting down five enemy planes, and his superior Dietrich Hrabak commended his actions and asked for him to be promoted to Lieutenant. Beisswenger made the promotion and fought in the Eastern Front until his MIA report in March 1943. He was shot down south of Lake Ilmen; one of his fellow officers reported that his plane suffered engine failure as he tried to return to friendly territory, and he crashed soon after.